A decade after his wife was swept away in a tsunami, Yasuo still searches the sea

On 11 March 2011, the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded struck off the coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu, triggering a series of tsunamis that hit much of the northeastern coast. The devastation was widespread, with nearly 20,000 people confirmed dead, and more than 2,500 still missing. More than a decade later, the cities and towns impacted by this natural disaster have recovered with great resilience, but the feeling of loss still reverberates for many. The Diver profiles one such Japanese man, Yasuo Takamatsu, whose wife Yuko went missing following the earthquake and who still lives in the tragedy’s immense wake. The US director Anderson Wright tells his story with care and empathy, joining Takamatsu as he makes his latest of more than 600 dives into the sea in an attempt to find her. As Takamatsu descends into the vast blue sea, he reflects on the depths of his love. With stunning cinematography and subtle craft, the film offers a poignant portrait of grief’s enduring power, as well as the strength it can inspire.